Peabody Man Arrested And Charged With Drug Offenses
BOSTON - A Peabody man was arrested today for attempting to manufacture methamphetamine in a hotel room.
John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; and Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, announced that Joseph E. Penachio, 35, was charged with attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, endangering human life while attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, and possession of precursor chemicals with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.
The alleged offenses took place on July 29, 2012 at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Peabody. The Peabody Police and Fire Departments responded to the Holiday Inn following reports of an explosion and fire in Room 119. Other hotel guests were evacuated and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Clandestine Lab Enforcement Team responded to investigate and process the scene.
The statutory penalty for attempted manufacture of methamphetamine is a maximum of 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release and a $1 million fine. The maximum penalty for endangering human life during the commission of a drug offense is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for possession of precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being prosecuted by attorneys in Ortiz’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force.
